BBYO Teen Leaders Re-Commit to Gender Inclusivity

Washington, DC – On Friday, August 14, 2015, the Executive Leaders of the Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA) and the B'nai B'rith Girls (BBG), the high school leadership fraternity and sorority of BBYO, passed a motion to ensure BBYO continues to be fully gender inclusive and pluralistic. The motion from teens across the BBYO International Order asserts:

Young people who genuinely identify as Jewish – no matter their gender identity – are given full eligibility to join and afforded full status as members of the Grand Order of the Aleph Zadik Aleph and the International Order of the B'nai B'rith Girls in any matter, business or forum.

When AZA and BBG were founded in 1924 and 1944 respectively, it was to provide Jewish young men and women, previously excluded from Greek Life and other societies based on their religion, their own social groups through which they could serve their community and observe Judaism freely. To embrace the ever-changing Jewish community and continue to be a safe space for all Jewish young people, the leaders of the BBYO Movement recommit to BBYO's long-standing tradition of inclusivity.

“BBYO members have stood up for each other and the entire Jewish community for more than 90 years,” said Matthew Grossman, BBYO’s Chief Executive Officer. “This motion is a testament to BBYO’s commitment to inclusivity and just one example of how BBYO is a welcoming place for every Jewish teen.”

This motion was passed at the annual AZA and BBG International August Executives Conference, during which BBYO teen leaders from across the BBYO International Order work together to set the priorities of the Movement for the upcoming programming year.

About BBYO

BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. For 90 years, BBYO‘s leadership programs the Aleph Zadik Aleph (AZA, high school fraternity) and the B’nai B’rith Girls (BBG, high school sorority) have been providing exceptional leadership programs and identity enrichment experiences, shaping the confidence and character of more than 400,000 alumni who are among the most prominent figures in business, politics, academia, the arts and Jewish communal life. Now, BBYO’s network of Jewish teens, alumni, parents, volunteers and philanthropists serves as the Jewish community’s most valuable platform for delivering to the post Bar/Bat Mitzvah audience fun, meaningful and affordable experiences. With year-round activities in hundreds of local communities and inspiring world-wide travel experiences, BBYO’s broad program menu enables teens to explore areas of leadership, service, civic engagement, Israel education and Jewish values.

Please note that BBYO should not be referred to as the B’nai B’rith Youth Organization, but rather as “BBYO.”